Tiger Woods’ therapy

Rogério Beltrão Coelho

Looking humbled and solemn Tiger Woods appeared in public at a selective news conference for his anticipated ‘mea culpa’ act.
He admitted he was wrong. Apologized to everyone and all, especially to his family, most of all to his wife.
Woods was truly repented and vowed with all his might not to indulge in the same error.
So, in the midst of tears and applause America could finally rest peacefully, free from the dubbed primary sexual delinquent.
The press posted breaking news and TV channels went live on the matter, airing also the opinion of experts that doubted his sincerity. They felt, based on their expertise, that the golfer’s voice had no vibrato, not a hint to show that he was moved, among other arguments of known scientific value.
For those of you still unaware of what happened (there could only be a few of you, as such outstanding-news-that-can-change-the-world is hard to miss, even the most sordid little details) Tiger Woods has been found to have had "a bit on the side"... or a "lot" on the side as this case may be.

We are told (he confessed…) that he was involved with 11 different women, of varied backgrounds and community standing.
So, when one would suppose that the matter would only interest his wife (so repeatedly neglected), there is purist America – not much experienced in sexual scandals – pointing the menacing finger at the world's favourite number one golfer.  His sponsors – flexed and respected people – backed away slowly and silently, keeping their brands well clear of such indecency.

An uproar from various sectors ensued and the sinner, no doubt judging that a monastery was not the solution, decided to "give it a straight cut" (honni soit) and enter a clinic for sex-dependence therapy.
Having gone through the hard penance that ends with the public apology, Woods has finally come out of hiding.
Ask me if I feel this is fair. If Tiger Woods should have to put up with these constraints. Some humiliating, a few degrading but mostly hypocritical. Ask if I believe in his true repentance.
Well, I feel it is more than fair. As an advocate of moral and good-behavior, and since the bonfire of the Inquisition has long been extinct, I am sure Woods has suffered for all his  wrongdoings, and for the nerve he had of passing himself off as someone who wouldn't hurt a fly.
One the plus side, during his time away from the greens he has given a unique chance to at least a dozen golfers who would never have even dreamed of winning a prize while he was competing.
At least one other American citizen made out well from the situation. Firstly, she was awarded with an award winning performance that has nothing to do with golf (according to her words), and secondly because she got hold of an interesting sum (we hear one million dollars) for spilling the beans to the press on her fleeting affair with Woods.
What I find difficult to understand though, is what appears to be a double standard of moral criteria in the United States. Take for instance the real Hollywood story of actor Warren Beatty.
Just like Woods, Beatty is American. While both are equally famous, the number of women each bedded is spectacularly disproportionate. Woods admits to being involved with 11 women, while Beatty, now aged 72, bedded – throughout his life – no less than 12,775 women, not counting those that he dated, according to a biography published in 2009.
It happens that Beatty was not jailed. He was not condemned by public opinion. He continues to move freely throughout America and he is still being awarded prizes and recognition for his career.
So, do I believe in Woods’ true repentance? Absolutely not!
I am even sure that, during therapy, Woods was busy doing some arithmetic. The world competitions he was prevented from attending meant net losses of millions of dollars.
He was even led to believe that each offense cost him close to one million dollars.
So, what’s left for him but the path to chastity?